Solo Leveling: Producers Reveal Most Challenging Episode Was Ant King Battle

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Compared to its first season, the second season of “Solo Leveling” significantly excelled across multiple aspects, including the main storyline and Jinwoo’s adversaries and battles. The most noticeable enhancement, however, lies in the series’ animation quality. While the first season was already highly praised for its animation, the second season took it to another level, offering fans some of the most thrilling fights within “Solo Leveling”. This enhanced animation also posed new challenges for the production team, making this episode the toughest one they’ve tackled so far.

In a recent Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) discussion, I overheard Sota Furuhashi, the main Producer, and Atsushi Kaneko, the Animation Producer for the popular series “Solo Leveling”, discuss their experiences during production. When asked about the most time-consuming and challenging phase of the series and which fight they deemed the best from Season 2, Atsushi Kaneko pointed out Episode 24 as particularly notable. This episode, equivalent to Season 2 Episode 12, features the highly anticipated battle between Jinwoo and the Ant King. According to Kaneko, this episode was exceptional because it contained a staggering 17,000 frames compared to the typical average of 8,000 to 10,000 frames for most episodes. In his own words, “Episode 24 really stood out for me. I don’t recall the exact average, but most Solo Leveling episodes typically had around 8,000 to 10,000 frames. Episode 24 had about 17,000—which completely eclipses the others.

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Solo Leveling‘s Best Fight Was Also the Most Challenging to Animate

To me, as a casual observer, it’s evidently obvious that Episode 24 was meticulously crafted. This episode stands out as the finest in the series thus far, transcending expectations not only due to its coverage of the much-anticipated climax of the Jeju Arc – the epic battle between Jinwoo and the Ant King – but also because it significantly surpassed fans’ expectations for a fight that was already highly favored in the manhwa. The sheer number of frames used, almost twice the usual amount, underscores the fact that the Jinwoo vs. Beru fight is undoubtedly the crowning achievement among all fights in Solo Leveling so far.

In the Reddit post, Kaneko further emphasizes why Episode 24 stands out, noting, “I made this point elsewhere too, but the battle scene where Jinwoo takes on everyone, with the red and blue symbolizing conflict and a purple backdrop setting the mood – it was incredibly emotional. It seemed like Jinwoo had ventured into something profound, unveiling an entirely new aspect of himself.

Solo Leveling‘s Producers Reveal Their Favorite Episodes of the Series

In the same discussion thread where Kaneko and Furuhashi shared their favorite episodes, Kaneko once more opted for Episode 24 from Season 2. He elaborated on why this episode was particularly significant to him, expressing that it showcased a remarkable blend of animation and emotion, making it feel like the culmination of Jinwoo’s journey up to that point.

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Regarding Sota Furushashi, he openly admitted that Episode 21 from Season 2, specifically Episode 9, was his favorite. This particular episode stirred up quite a bit of discussion among fans because of Jinwoo’s uncommon display of emotions. However, this is exactly what made it Furuhashi’s preferred episode as he clarified, “I would say Episode 21, where Jinwoo’s mother gets revived. The series usually concentrates on action and battles, but we seldom delve into why he’s fighting. That scene finally lays bare the emotional heart of his journey. Even in the webtoon, it was one of the most touching moments for me.

It’s clear from statements by Solo Leveling’s production team at A-1 Pictures that they are deeply invested in the series, a fact that fans have long appreciated. The knowledge that the series is in capable hands provides additional comfort, yet remains enticing. As we eagerly await what the creators will bring to the table for the remainder of the series, there’s hope that Season 3 can match or even surpass the high standards set by Season 2 and epic battles like the Ant King fight.

Solo Leveling can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-05-02 20:10